Regional

***The year in review*** BLAKE’S Corner in Ennistymon was consistently in the news during 2012 but those hoping the traffic issues at the junction will be resolved will have to wait until at least 2014. Back in January, it was revealed at a North Clare area meeting that Clare County Council would have to spend an extra €100,000 on a new Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to facilitate proposed improvement works at the busy junction following new national planning regulations introduced in 2011, provoking outrage amongst local county councillors.This outrage was revisited in December when An Bord Pleanála confirmed an EIS would have to be completed before work on the destruction and reconstruction of the Blake’s and Linnane’s buildings could begin. The council is proposing to do the work on the buildings as part of a change to the layout of the junction connecting the N85 and N67. The board directed the authority to prepare an EIS in respect of the …

  ***The year in review*** The ongoing saga of the controversial plans by Michael Lynch Limited for the construction of a €34 million retail development on the outskirts of Ennis continued throughout 2012.In January, Ennis Town Council refused planning permission for the development considering it to be “premature”. This decision has since been appealed to An Bord Pleanála who, at the time of writing, had yet to make a decision.The retail development is proposed for a site at the Limerick Road / Tobarteascain Road, with Tesco set to be the main anchor tenant. The plans have been opposed by a number of groups including Ennis Chamber, businesses and traders associations and local residents who have voiced concerns that it could lead to a ‘doughnut effect’. In making the decision to refuse planning permission, the local authority stated it was satisfied that the development was acceptable and compliant with the objectives for the site as set out in the Ennis and …

  ***The year in review*** THE growing population of Roslevan were blessed with the official launch of a new community facility this year. Although in use for some time, November saw the dedication of the new Church of Our Lady in Roslevan and official opening of the refurbished Fahy Hall. Bishop of Killaloe Kieran O’Reilly gave the blessing at the church while Mayor of Ennis Peter Considine cut the ribbon on Fahy Hall.The project, which cost approximately €600,000, was first envisaged six years ago to cater for the increasing numbers in the Doora Barefield parish. “This new facility has been the net result of many years of painstaking planning on the part of local people on the pastoral council. And the good will from the community has been just astounding by way of financial support for this project,” said Fr Jerry Carey at the time.The history of the project goes back to 2005 with the appointment of the late Fr …

  ***The year in review*** The provision of a major piece of infrastructure, such as a new distributor road, is usually welcomed by the majority of residents and businesses as a sign of progress. However, plans for the second phase of the 10km Northern Distributor Relief Road, costing between €100 and €120 million, have divided locals, particularly in Parteen and Clonlara.In fact, despite Clare County Council’s efforts to explain the necessity to plan for a new route linking Coonagh with the outskirts of Castletroy in Limerick City, local dissent still rages at the end of 2012.The extent of the opposition against plans for phase two is significant, considering phase one of the route, linking Coonagh with Knocknalisheen in Meelick, generated little conflict.What promises to be the second largest piece of infrastructure after the €660m Shannon Tunnel, has generated unprecedented interest among communities with over 400 submissions lodged by residents and interested parties during the extensive consultation process.This is almost five …

  ***The year in review*** WHILE most towns and villages are crying out for investment in the midst of Government austerity, Killaloe and Ballina bucked the national trend with the unveiling of developments totalling over €1.6 million in 2012. Undoubtedly, the twin communities benefited from having a junior minister on their doorstep. Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Alan Kelly, who lives between Ballina and Portroe, a few miles from Killaloe bridge, announced projects totalling €432,348 during the year.One of the most important developments was the green light for a €1.2m sports and recreational project, spearheaded by former Lions player and Ireland captain Keith Wood at Clarisford Park.Work started on the first phase of the ambitious project in May, following seven years of endeavour by a local committee. The Clarisford Development will see sports and recreational facilities brought into line with growing local need.The first phases of the development on 25 acres of parkland behind the former Bishop’s …

  ***The year in review*** There was much to celebrate in East Clare this year with not only two Scariff-based organisations reaching milestone birthdays but also with the visit of President Michael D Higgins to mark these occasions. The Irish Seed Savers’ Association (ISSA) in Scariff celebrated its 21st birthday this year and was delighted to welcome President Higgins and his wife Sabine to open their new seed bank facility – the first gene bank of its kind in the country, in June. Speaking at the time, director of the ISSA and former CEO of Greenpeace Ireland, Claire O’Grady Walsh commented, “What a hopeful thing to do to open a bank in 2012 – a proper bank – a seed bank and what an honour to have a poet and a dreamer as our President”.When officially opening the ISSA’s new seed bank, President Higgins remarked, “Your work is important as it is regrettably rare in this country, with the numbers …

  ***The year in review*** AS this year marked the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, the Lough Graney community came out in force to remember one of their own who was caught up in the disaster. Mary Agatha Glynn, aged 19, was one of the first steerage passengers to survive Titanic and a very special tribute was paid to her in April.  Lough Graney was where the young East Clare woman learned to row a boat and on April 15, 1912, Mary Agatha Glynn had to use this skill to row herself and the passengers on lifeboat 13 to safety.The event attracted upwards of 300 people. In preparation for this occasion, members of the organising committee tracked down Mary Agatha Glynn’s husband’s niece, Peggy who lived near them in Washington over a 10-year period. Peggy, who now lives in Kerry, lived beside Mary and her family for some time and she explained that they had a summer …

  ***The year in review*** AFTER years of delays and controversies, along with expenditure of more than €5 million of taxpayers’ money, a relatively humble 22-bed affordable and step-down housing development was finally completed. The project at Glaise na Rinne was controversial as far back as 2007, before construction ever began, as residents of Cluain Airne claimed the site was inappropriate, as the development was going onto a local green area.Five years later – a period during which the residential property market collapsed, removing the need for specific affordable housing developments – it was finally completed.Of the 22 houses, 16 are affordable housing and the other six are step-down units. The most expensive of the affordable units are priced at €102,000, while an average of €230,000 was spent on providing each house, meaning huge losses.At a council meeting in November, Shannon town manager and Clare County Council director of housing, Bernadette Kinsella gave some details of the expenditure on the …